Angie Potter, Medical Expenses

This is the last thing the family wanted to do but they also know how much it would help in this situation.

Angie’s husband, 3 sons and sister will face unimaginable financial hurdles over the next few months, in order to commute to and from UK hospital. Every dime will be spent to help with gas, food and lodging during this time.

Full story of Angie’s situation.

Wednesday November 1st 6:20am, she was found by her oldest son Randy face down in the bathroom / hallway, nonverbal or responding but breathing.

Immediately Randy and his wife noticed she was showing stroke like symptoms as her right arm & leg had no movements & was drawn as well as drooping in the side of her face.

911 was called and she was taken to Pikeville Medical Center. Shortly after arrival PMC called a code 100 (stroke symptoms). While they cleared her for a stroke stating her CT was clear, family still insisted she had all symptoms. At this point Angie was agitated, still not fully alert, nonverbal & making involuntary movements. The ER doctor stated her blood draws showed an elevated WBC of 34,000 but were unable to find where the source of infection was coming from. Due to Angie’s past social history the ER repeatedly insinuated they suspected a drug overdose. The entire time the family stressed how that was not even a possibility because Angie does not abuse drugs nor does she take anything other than one medication which is prescribed.

Angie was having an elevated heart rate, high blood pressure and drops in her oxygen. They diagnosed her with hypoxia (low oxygen levels). After communication between the ER & ICU doctors it was best to intubate and put her on the vent to allow her body to rest.

Once moved to the ICU, family spoke to the ICU doctor and stressed that she was showing all signs of a stroke when found. The ICU doctor then assured them that the CT of her brain showed no evidence of a stroke and began asking if pills were found around her body. The family once again stressed that nothing was found and that an overdose should not even be being considered because that is not what has happened.

It wasn’t until family was able to speak to the nightshift nurse and doctor at 9:30pm that they again stressed the signs and symptoms she was showing of a stroke. The nightshift ICU doctor immediately ordered a STAT MRI because he agreed the symptoms sounded like a stroke. After all testing was performed the family received a call from the head of Neurology at PMC stating Angie had suffered a massive stroke and was showing signs of extreme swelling on her brain. It was then told to the family this was an emergent situation and she would need a Hemicraniectomy (a major surgical operation during which a section (half or greater) of the patient’s skull is removed to allow the swelling in the brain to increase past the limitation of the cranium). This surgery had become a life or death situation.

The surgery was performed around 2am and the family was notified around 4am that the surgery went well and Angie remained stable. After multiple phone calls between the family and the head of neurology at PMC, it was clear Angie needed to be transferred to a hospital better capable of handling her situation.

At 12pm November 2nd Angie was airlifted to the UK Albert B Chandler Hospital and admitted to the Neurocritical Care ICU where she still resides. Angie remains intubated on the ventilator, sedated and unresponsive.

At this time a definite prognosis has not been determined but both the family and medical care team are hoping for the best outcome.

It is still unclear of exactly how long medical treatment will be needed at UK hospital but is expected to last months between her stay in the hospital and stay at rehabilitation.

We understand money is hard to come by and if you can’t donate we understand. We simply as for as many prayers as Angie and the family can get during this time as they are very much needed.